diff --git a/plugins/matchmaking.go b/plugins/matchmaking.go
index beac60f..ad8d726 100644
--- a/plugins/matchmaking.go
+++ b/plugins/matchmaking.go
@@ -23,50 +23,39 @@ func MatchmakerMatched(
 ) (string, error) {
 
 	if len(entries) != 2 {
-		logger.Warn("MatchmakerMatched triggered but incorrect player count: %d", len(entries))
-		return "", runtime.NewError("requires exactly 2 players", 3)
+		logger.Warn("MatchmakerMatched triggered with %d players", len(entries))
+		return "", nil
 	}
 
-	// Extract player data
-	ticketA := entries[0]
-	ticketB := entries[1]
-
-	propsA := ticketA.GetProperties()
-	propsB := ticketB.GetProperties()
+	propsA := entries[0].GetProperties()
+	propsB := entries[1].GetProperties()
 
 	modeA, okA := propsA["mode"].(string)
 	modeB, okB := propsB["mode"].(string)
 
 	if !okA || !okB {
-		logger.Error("Matchmaker ticket missing mode property")
-		return "", runtime.NewError("matchmaking requires game mode", 13)
+		logger.Warn("MatchmakerMatched missing mode property — ignoring")
+		return "", nil
 	}
 
-	// ✅ Ensure both players queued for the same mode
+	// ✅ If modes don’t match, let Nakama find another pairing
 	if modeA != modeB {
-		logger.Warn("Players queued for different modes: %s != %s", modeA, modeB)
-		return "", runtime.NewError("players must select same mode", 3)
+		logger.Warn("Mode mismatch %s vs %s — retrying matchmaking", modeA, modeB)
+		return "", nil
 	}
 
+	// ✅ Create authoritative match
 	matchParams := map[string]interface{}{
 		"mode": modeA,
 	}
 
-	// ✅ Create authoritative match instance
 	matchID, err := nk.MatchCreate(ctx, "tictactoe", matchParams)
 	if err != nil {
 		logger.Error("MatchCreate failed: %v", err)
 		return "", runtime.NewError("failed to create match", 13)
 	}
 
-	logger.Info("✅ Match created: %s — mode=%s — players=%s, %s",
-		matchID,
-		modeA,
-		ticketA.GetPresence().GetUserId(),
-		ticketB.GetPresence().GetUserId(),
-	)
-
-	// ✅ Return match ID so Nakama notifies clients over WebSocket
+	logger.Info("✅ Match created %s — mode=%s", matchID, modeA)
 	return matchID, nil
 }